Improvement in water-wheels



' @eine gratte atent @ffice ROBERT DUNBAR, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.'

Letters Patent N 67,175, dated July 30, 1867.

IMPROVEMENT IN WATER-WHEELS.

felge .tlgthule nicht it iu tigtse tittrs ntnit mit making tati nf tige stmt.

TO ALL WHOM IT `MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that I, ROBERT DUNBAR, of the city of Buffalo, county of Erie, and State of New York, have invented a new and improved Water-Wheel ;v and I do hereby declare that the following is afull, clear, and

exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure I is a vertical section representing the wheel placed inthe curb in which it works,`and

Figure II is an elevation of the wheel separate from the curb.

The nature of this invention relates, first, to nlaking the hub to which the bucketsare attached cylindrical and vertical in the lower section thereof, and Haring or widening out in the upper section t-hereof; second, in

` inelining the bucket forward in that part thereof` which is in contact with the daring part of the hub, and in making its upper part tapering from the inside edge thereof, to conform to the flaring shape of the hub, while the outside edge of the bucket in the whole line thereof, when placed in the wheel, shall stand in a vertical plane. i

Letters 0f like name and kind refer to like parts in each of the figures.

A B represent the hub to which thebuckets :ire attached, the upper part A being made flaring or widening out, and the lower part B cylindridal and vertical. It is made of cust iron in the rdinary process of easting, the buckets and the wheel being cast together asa whole. The bucket is represented at C. Its novelty consists in its peculiar shape and position upon the hub. r1 he lower part, which connects with the cylindrical part of-the hub und the anti-friction band D, Vis equal in width, or nearly so, and the edge thereof which con- Vnects with the hub lies in the same angle as the edge which connects with the band, so that the water discharges at the saine angle at the hub as atA the bund, while the upper part (or that part which connects with the flaring part of the hub,) is made tapering or upon an angle, so that it will fit the Haring part of the huh, and in its connection with this part of thel hub it is inclined forward, as shown in the drawings, so that the water ns it strikes or fills this part of the bucket will have a. lifting as well as a propelling eil'ect upon the wheel. The hub is also made flaring in connection with the forward inclination of the bucket in order that the water they havea similar lifting us well as propelling effect upon the wheel.l The lifting eiect of thc waiter upon the hub and'buckets relieves the pressure and friction of the wheel-shaft in its step, and causes the wheel to run lighter. This construction also gives the waterniorc powcrupon the wheel. E is the wheel-shaft, and F the step in which it runs; G is the lubricating cup; H is the curb in which the wheel is placed,4 which has four or more chutes I, through which the water is cnrricdto the wheel; and J is the cap which sets upon tho curb, and which has a bearing, K, for the upper end of the wheel-shaft. L is a cross or frame, and is connected with the curb, as shown at m, to form a support for the step. These parts are of well-known construction to those acquainted with this class of wheels, and :t detailed description thereof in this specification is not deemed to 4be necessary. It will be noticed that the lower part of the face of the bucket lying between the barni'and the huh is an inclined plane. There is no curve or twist in this part of the bucket, and hence the whole sheet of water passing over the bucket is discharged at the same angle.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A hub made flaring in the upper part thereof, as represented at A, in combina-tion with the forward inclination of the bucketfin connection therewith, for the purposes and substantially as set forth.

2. I claim giving a plane surfaceV to the lower part of the face of the bucket of said wheel lying between the cylindrical part of the hub and the'anti-fricticn band D, substnntiallyas described. I

ROBT. DUNBAR.

Witnesses:

B. H. MUEBLE, E. B. FoRBusn. 

